Spatial assessment of hydrologic alteration across the Pearl River Delta,China, and possible underlying causes |
| |
| Authors: | Qiang Zhang Chong‐Yu Xu Yongqin David Chen Tao Yang |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China;2. Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway;3. Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China;4. State Key Laboratory of Hydrology‐Water Resources and Hydraulics Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China |
| |
| Abstract: | The alterations of the water level across the Pearl River Delta (PRD) were investigated using a ‘range of variability approach’ (RVA) based on monthly water level datasets extracted from 17 gauging stations. A mapping method was used to illustrate the spatial patterns in the degrees of alteration of water levels. The results indicated that more stations showing moderate and high alterations in monthly mean maximum and minimum water levels when compared with monthly maximum and minimum water levels. River channels characterized by higher alterations of water levels were observed mainly in the regions north of 22° 30′N. Alterations of water levels across the PRD were a consequence of various influencing factors. However, changed hypsography due to extensive and intensive human activities, particularly the large‐scale dredging and excavation of the river sand, may be taken as one of the major causes for the substantial hydrologic alteration. This study indicated that the river channels characterized by altered water levels are mostly those characterized by highly and moderately intensive sand dredging. The changed ratio of the streamflow between Makou and Sanshui stations, the major upstream flow control stations, also influenced the water level alterations of the Pearl River delta. The results of this study will be of great significance in water resources management and better human mitigation of the natural hazards due to the altered water level under the changing environment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
| |
| Keywords: | hydrologic alteration water level range of variability approach Pearl River Delta |
|
|
